If I keep all my data on my C drive, can I safely install Windows 7 Beta on the secondary drive and dualboot both XP and 7?

yes, you can. all windows versions when installed on another partition/drive create a boot menu where you can choose which one to use.

i used this tutorial:http://apcmag.com/how_to_dualboot_vista_with_xp__stepbystep_guide_with_screenshots.htm?page=1it's related to windows vista, but it works with windows 7 too.best regardstom

if you would use this way, here's an update: please assign a valid drive letter with the disk management tool under win7 to your winxp partition/disk and set the driveletter in the EasyBCD tool correct. after that your winxp will boot normally.

Yes you can easily install Windows 7 on another drive. As you already have XP installed Windows 7 will automatically create a dual boot menu and you will be able to boot to either XP or Windows 7. Prior to installing Windows 7 it is a good idea to go to Disk Management in XP (Control Panel>Administartive Tools>Computer Managment>Disk Management) and give your second hard drive a name. For simplicity, say Win 7. When you install windows 7 and you are asked which drive/partition you want to install the operating system on you will instantly be able to recognise which drive you need to direct the installation to.John Barnett - Windows XP Associate Expert; Windows Desktop Experience. - Web: http://www.winuser.co.uk; Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org; Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

As a followup question, is there something I need to do to be able to see/access my original C drive?I have a 2 drive system. Drive 0 (Original C) has Vista and Drive 1 (Original D) has Windows 7. When I boot up into Vista I can see/access the Win7 drive but when I boot up into Win7 the Vista drive is not there (My Computer). I am running the 64 bit Beta on Win7 and 32 bit Home Premium on Vista if that makes a difference.Thanks

i have the same problem as wabos cant access my c partition in windows7 64bit but can see both in in vista home premium 32bit

Wabos said: As a followup question, is there something I need to do to be able to see/access my original C drive?I have a 2 drive system. Drive 0 (Original C) has Vista and Drive 1 (Original D) has Windows 7. When I boot up into Vista I can see/access the Win7 drive but when I boot up into Win7 the Vista drive is not there (My Computer). I am running the 64 bit Beta on Win7 and 32 bit Home Premium on Vista if that makes a difference.ThanksTo get Windows 7 to see and be able to use the drive, you have to assign it a letter in the Disk Management system. To do this, open the start bar and search for computer management. In Computer Management, click the link to storage, the toDisk Management. After it loads, you should see both of your drives. To get your Vista drive to show up, right click on it, and select Change Drive Letter and Paths. From that window, you can that give the drive a letter and after that, it should then show up in Windows 7Hope this helps!

starcomusa30273 said: To get Windows 7 to see and be able to use the drive, you have to assign it a letter in the Disk Management system. To do this, open the start bar and search for computer management. In Computer Management, click the link to storage, the toDisk Management. After it loads, you should see both of your drives. To get your Vista drive to show up, right click on it, and select Change Drive Letter and Paths. From that window, you can that give the drive a letter and after that, it should then show up in Windows 7Hope this helps! Yep, that did the trick.Thanks!

To see the other operating system from Windows 7 you need to give your Vista drive a drive letter. Once a drive letter has been allocated then you will be able to see the other operating system.This is actually an interesting question, especially as you have two hard drives. I use one hard drive with two separate partitions and without allocating a drive letter to my Vista partition I am unable to see that partition. Based on my experience I have recommended that people who cannot see the second operating system should allocate a drive letter. However, recently I have been told (on an alternativce newsgroup and by several people) that if you have two seperate Windows 7 automatically allocates a drive letter to the other operating system. It looks as if, based on your expereince, this is not true, even with two seperate hard drive you still need to allocate a drive letter to the Vista drive.John Barnett - Windows XP Associate Expert; Windows Desktop Experience. - Web: http://www.winuser.co.uk; Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org; Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org